I'm Back!

First of all, I apologize for being absent for such a long time. I know you will forgive me. That's just how you are. I've had so much to say and so little time to say it. When the kids are in bed, I'm busy getting caught up with work stuff. Stephen says I'm a college student all over again. I suppose I am. I've always been a night owl anyway.

Truth is, this blog will be wrapping up soon. Yep, there are just a few more posts left to enter on this blog then it's time for some new scenery. I need your help, though. I'm really struggling with a clever title for my new digs. I can't wait to share our lives with you. This blog will always be here, as a resource for future adopting parents and as a personal account of the journey we traveled to unite our family.

There is still some unfinished business. Stephen's trip to Haiti needs to be documented and I plan on posting his personal video documentary here very soon.

It has been nearly three months since we have brought Lydie and Samson home. Here are some of my favorite moments since they have arrived:

• Descending into the CR airport with Lydie on my lap.  I explain to her that what she is seeing is "Iowa". I hear her say "Iowa" as clear as anything and my emotions get the best of me. We are almost home.
• The feeling of gratitude I had when our church supplied meals for us the first week the kids were home. We felt so loved.
• Samson's smile melts my heart.
• Watching Samson use his imagination. He is the most imaginative player I have ever seen. This week I saw him put imaginary lotion on his hands and he realized that he couldn't pick up his toys with the "lotion" in his hands so his solution was to wipe it all over his face so he could carry his toys away. Hilarious!
• Listening to both kids acquire the English language. It amazes me every day what new phrases they have picked up. 
• Lydie's passionate love of life. It's infectious. 
• Lydie's spontaneous singing. Her favorite songs are: "Jesus Loves Me" (English), I'm in the Lord's Army (English), If You're Happy and You know it (Creole & English), How Great Thou Art (Creole), He Reigns (English), This is the Day (Creole). 
• Watching Lydie and Samson run free as fast as they possibly can in an open park. 
• Watching them eat fresh fruits and vegetables and like it!
• Seeing their excitement when their daddy walks through the door at night. 
• Cute toddler bodies in footy pajamas. 
• Samson's snuggles when he wakes up and then his sudden urge to eat a banana or an apple. 
• Watching my parents and Stephen's parents bond to our children and our children bond to them. 
• Hair time with Lydie and her patience with me. 
• Moving out of mom and dad's bedroom and into their own room. Progress!
• Being called "mommy". It's the best!

A week I will never forget--Part 2

There may be a noticeable change in voice, as Naomi has asked me to record my experiences in writing...beware.

Naomi left off with my Miami to PAP flight being cancelled, which left with with a rebooked flight out of Miami the next morning at 7:20 am, boarding at 6:20.  I was satisfied with this in light of the fact that some passengers were rebooked out of Ft. Lauderdale.

The airline put me up in a 1-star hotel with an even worse restaurant.  Perhaps the meal was not that bad, but my stomach was in knots, so who knows.

I had a divine appointment earlier that day with a Miami airport gate worker who recommended that I be at the TSA check-in two hours prior to boarding, but 4:20 seemed extremely early.  I was up at 3:45, which felt like 2:45 Iowa time, caught the 4:30 shuttle to the airport, and was through TSA by 5:00.

Another divine appointment, but this time it was someone I knew, Jim Varda.  Jim and Donna were adopting two girls who were close friends with Lydie.  He was joining his wife and girls by catching the same flight on which I was rebooked.  Not only familiar face, but he was a seasoned veteran of the PAP airport!

We boarded the flight, and I was seated between two Presbyterian church-planters from San Francisco.  They prayed for me and off to PAP we went.

How do I describe the PAP airport?  Chaos?  Intimidating?  Yes and yes.  You are bused from the plane to a hanger which became the customs and baggage claim after the 2010 earthquake. You are bottlenecked through one of four booths, observing apparent favoritism, as some passengers are escorted past you to the front of the line.  The whole time feeling like they may not let you in the country on a technicality.  No one seems to be happy.

Then the baggage claim area swarms with men who are intensely persistent about carrying your bags.  Some will even pose as airport workers and insist that you are required to acquire their services.  Even the legitimate workers are intimidating because you may be questioned and searched on several occasions within a matter of feet of the door outside.  No one seems to be happy.  Then you step outside...